

Film Stories with Simon Brew
Simon Brew
Film Stories with Simon Brew is a podcast that looks to dig into the stories behind popular movies.From troubled productions, to rights issues, to difficulties with release to films nearly falling apart, the podcast will be looking at the stories that don't always seem apparent when watching a movie!The podcast is hosted by Simon Brew, the founder of Den Of Geek. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Thank you!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 17, 2020 • 53min
Casino (1995) and Red State (2011)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Scorsese and De Niro's third film together in the 90s, and how Kevin Smith took on the Hollywood system. Casino wasn't originally going to be the film Martin Scorsese made in the mid-90s - and he found himself up against problems when its source novel came out after the film. With Red State, writer and director Kevin Smith decided to challenge the way Hollywood did business - with mixed results. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 10, 2020 • 52min
War Of The Worlds (2005) and The Mask (1994)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a Spielberg summer blockbuster and a bit of a hit out of nowhere. War Of The Worlds wasn't even greenlit until eleven months before its release - and filming wouldn't start for three more months after that. The Mask had more time on its side, and by the time it came to its release, it turned out it had the world's biggest new movie star in its ensemble. Not bad, for a film originally envisaged as a horror trilogy. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2020 • 54min
Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995) and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that went through a fair few ideas, and a comedy that heavily stumbled at the box office. Die Hard With A Vengeance saw big changes behind the scenes - and a struggle to find an ending that works. As for Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, it turned into a film that had as much footage to work through as a documentary that had shot for a year. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 12, 2020 • 50min
Executive Decision (1996) and Men In Black 3 (2012)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies with two very different stories behind them. Warner Bros traded Forrest Gump to get its hands on Executive Decision. But things were a little tense on set, not least with Steven Seagal. As for Men In Black 3? Well, yikes. A film that cost a quarter of a billion dollars to make, with a three month shutdown in the midst of filming. It's hard to know where to begin. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2020 • 54min
Death Becomes Her (1992) and The Wedding Singer (1998)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit comedies made at different ends of the 1990s. Death Becomes Her was expensive, technically demanding and ultimately visually groundbreaking - and it'd be the film that brought Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn together, after they passed on Thelma & Louise. The Wedding Singer, meanwhile, would alter notably because of two women: Drew Barrymore, and the late, great Carrie Fisher. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2020 • 38min
Military Wives (2019) and Lucky Break (2001) with director Peter Cattaneo
In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, director Peter Cattaneo chats about his latest film, now heading to disc, Military Wives. He and Simon chat about releasing it the week before cinemas closed, losing a week of production, and also Cattaneo's earlier movies, Lucky Break and The Full Monty. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 28, 2020 • 53min
Hot Shots! (1991) and Thirteen Days (2000)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how a spoof movie eerily echoed newspapers headlines, and a drama that fell a little through the cracks. Hot Shots! was written months before real life conflict echoed some of its plot - and production had a few challenges too. As for the Kevin Costner-headlined Thirteen Days, it's a film whose reputation has grown, but several studios and even more directors came and went before it finally got off the ground. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 21, 2020 • 53min
True Lies (1994) and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the last James Cameron/Arnold Schwarzenegger collaboration, and a beloved film that went through major difficulties. Arnold Schwarzenegger came to True Lies off the back of the box office disappointment Last Action Hero - and James Cameron needed to make a film to justify a huge deal his company had signed. As for Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory? For a much-loved film, it was a very, very taxing production. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2020 • 54min
The Rocketeer (1991) and Blockers (2018)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a much-loved 90s superhero film, and a comedy that took nearly a decade to get to the screen. The Rocketeer was a big hope in 1991. It was switched to come out under the Disney label, and there were sequel plans too. And then its release happened. As for Blockers, how a first-time movie director got the job - and how the film evolved into something rather special. Stories of both are discussed in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2020 • 54min
Condorman (1981) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Disney's odd attempt to create a superhero, and a troubled X-Men movie. Condorman was a big gamble for Disney in the early 80s, as it tried to follow in the path of Superman. Things didn't go to plan. Nor did they with the third X-Men film, that lost a couple of directors, had to ink new deals with all its cast - and then faced a script leak. Stories of both are discussed in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


